Wednesday, January 14, 2009

What's the Deal? Respect Wang's Gangster

With the signings of Sabathia and Burnett, our homegrown ace Chien Ming Wang has been moved down to the three spot in our rotation. Now the obvious reaction is to say that our rotation is stacked, but a less obvious reaction is to wonder why Wang was pushed down to the three spot. Now I can understand if he had been placed as a number 2. Sabathia is a Cy Young pitcher who carried the Brewers to the playoffs last season. You can argue win totals, but Sabathia has had a less potent offense than Wang. Now, placing Burnett in front of Wang is down right wrong. I don't know why the Yankees see fit to downplay Wang's achievements. First in the arbitration case last year, and now with this slide in the rotation. He's a two time 19 game winner who when healthy eats up innings, and gets people out. The only thing I can think of is that he is not a strikeout pitcher like Sabathia and Burnett, but in this enlightened era of baseball statistics, why does this even matter? Whether someone strikes out, pops out, or grounds out, they're still out. The argument is often that a ground ball can find holes, where a strikeout is a plain out, but ground balls can get you double plays, and that's what Wang is a master of. I like Burnett, don't get me wrong, but Wang is a winner, and the fact that people are so hesitant to give him the ace status is flat out ridiculous. Wang is so gangster, he doesn't even need strikeouts to win games. That's what should go on his plaque if he goes to the hall of fame.

Who knows? Maybe come April, Wang will be sandwiched between the two power pitchers to mix things up a bit for opposing teams. But yeah, Wang really does not get his due. As for Andy, he is showing his true colors, I guess. But unless Hughes and Kennedy have greatly matured and Joba can stay healthy, Yanks still need another guy. Not sure if Andy is it, though.

I don't think Andy needs the money that bad, but I really don't know what he's doing. If he had a better contract, why hasn't he signed yet. I want to say that the Dodgers would sign him both for the Torre connection and the fact that they've lost Lowe, but I haven't heard that a contract has been offered. I agree though that we could use another established starter in the lineup.

This white girl says that the treatment of Wang is racist. His English is crappy, which makes it hard for him to be a star. The Yankees organization likes people who are marketable, and while Wang is plenty marketable in Taiwan, Burnett and his rock-and-roll-raucous ways are much more likely to merit media attention here.

There definitely is a bias towards Wang because they feel he isn't as marketable, but the Yankees have never had a problem marketing their brand, and the area baseball is growing the fastest is in places like Chinese Taipei, where Wang is from. I mean the thing is, time will tell who the staff ace is. Let all three of them pitch for the next few years and we'll see who emerges in terms of consistancy, and impact. Its a shame that we've underappreciated him, but I'm sure he'll be racking the Yankees over the coals when he reaches free agency.

The Yankees and their fans are what America is all about. Everything has to be the biggest,best, and most outrageous for us to love it. Wang is not the biggest, best, or most outrageous. While, we respect Wang, he will never grace the front of a flea market T-shirt with a quote like "Wang Rules" on it. I do think that he is the number 2 on the staff though. Maybe come play-off time I could see him being a three because of his struggles in the post season.

Yankee Magic, have you seen Sabathia's post season numbers? Not pretty. One of the reasons I wanted Pettitte so badly was for the post season, but that seems more and more unlikely as each day passes.

Raven, good articles! If Pettitte goes to the Mets it will be a surprise. The more I think about it, the more I think the Yankees need him. Who better to have as a stopper in the post season? But I do think that they're giving him a good offer, and have over paid him the last two year.

Sean, I definitely agree. Burnett has some good stuff, and he could lead a rotation on most any team. Injuries are a huge factor with him, but he has the stuff to be dominant. On the other hand, Wang won 19 games in back-to-back seasons. That's hard to beat for a number 2.

Yeah, but Sabbathia also had to pitch alot down the stretch to get those teams into the playoffs, and he is getting paid to be number 1. Andy would be great. We would have the best number 5 guy in the division then.

I agree. Pettitte would shore up the staff nicely. It kind of makes me think that the Yankees should make more of an effort on this front. I'd prefer Pettitte over the best of Hughes, Aceves and Kennedy.